Liquid-fuel feed



April ll3 1926.

. G. RAMSEY LIQUID FUEL FEED' @riginal Filed Dec. 21,

lQl 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 13 1926.

' G. RAMSEY LIQUID FUEL FEED Original Filed Dec. 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il (l dPatented pr. 13, QZGQ ria.'rear S'IHllARTI WARNERl SPEEDOMETERS'CORPORATION; .Ab GORPRATION? 0E' VERGIN;

LQEQUIREEL FEED Application filed December 211,*1921; Serial No... 5251,(303.y Renewed-.Tuly 16,;1925.

Brooklyn, inthecount'y of' Kings, Statjeloty New York, llave inarented oertai'n new.' anduseful' Improvements 1n` Monial-Fuel? F`eed5- ofwli'icli the followingis a speeilieation- Thepresent' invention relates broadlyfto liquid' fuel' feede and'I more specially to a vacuuln- 'fuel' feeding s veteni tor l'iydroearlion engineeand tlie like.

There are tliree d'i'll'erent types o' vacuum luel'feeds recognized'in tlle art'; nanie'lyrltlie intermittently open s ve'tein, the closed evs-f. teni, and the constantly openA system'. 'lliese systems are deeeri'bed"1noie Specially with reference lov tlie condlition., ot the vacuum tank.

llie present' liniention relates more Hoef eial'lv to tlie c.o1istz=.iitlf. open. type. ln tli'e constantly open type t'liere is' vent willich Slaintained constantly. open and which eontiniutl'liy admits ai r totlle` vaeul un chainl bei'. ln order to maintain a?Dartialvacmun sul'li'rientto draw `gasoline from anla-in tank while atrnoelrere is' entering; tllrongl'i. the vent,l constructions are necessitated: which' permit the relativelyl quickwithdrawal'olf tlie air il'roni the vacuumr eliainljer. when.A the Suction valvole open.A ltj is nece ry tli'at the l'oat ller obrera-ting tlle Suction v\ a ve eliall lie heavy enough, to, openz tl'ie Suction Yvalve atl' r the -enlients of' tliefvaeaunr cla-inler llave drainedl into tliesstoraeecllanilier and' at' tl'se saine time tlie buoyancy. o'li the lfoat nlnet be euleient to enable the float; to rise as rapidly ae tl'ie gasoline rises in the. vaeuuln clianilier when suetion iee'lective eo tliat 1lle .auction valve eliorsedfl betere tli'e vacnnin clianxber ie over-lill'ed. 'Fliese Conditions impose limitations on tlie open syste/ni constructions which niale it desirable to llave a relatively largev Suetion conduit' W-liicl'i Should-not lie reetrieted,l Wli'i'cliconsequently ina-lies it desirabletliat tlie valvev opening shall lieA large. large` valve openings increase tlie 'area elleet'edlby Suction nflieutlie valve ie closedlt'liereby necessitating increasing'. tlie Weight of tlle floatl tofwvitlidravf tlie valve 'lronrtlieeeat when the valve 'is toibo opened. llei'etoi'ore in tlie art various exped'i'ents have been adopted'E toV nieet: tlese conditions and.;` Such expedientslave conn pli'eatedfl thel valve structure Sol that` it* llas. either been complex mechanically or elfi-pene Sive toi build: i

`The present1 invention overcomes the dillicultes of the. known' art. l-ywproviding a suction valve of. siinplle. `conStruetifon adapted" to operated by" a 1liuoyant- Heat, and: to liave' a' valve opening` O' relativelyl'arge So 'that tlie vacuum conduit` ie' not restricted. Thisl may be aceoinplielied by providinga pair oit-valves 'oneol' vvhicliis ofi relatively, Sina-ll area andl adaptedtointroL duee airL into' tliev vaeuuinline bel'ore tire. larger valve is removedVj troni its seat; 'Elie introduction off air-'Lieto the' vacuum` line decreases the effective suction on; tlielargevalve and*permite` tlle large Vvalve to lie more easily wi'tlidraxvn; from ite` valve seat: fliea matter of! convenience 4'thetWo valvesfinay lie associated-lso that tlie larger-valve carries the smallery valve; lt' .le desirable tliattlie float shall i be suspended when' it reaches its` lower li'mit of* travel and" the conetruetion Sustaining the larger valve Ina-y comprise an arrangement Where-By the val've'stern for'tlie Smaller valvemayv carry a bridgeV adapted to restk onftlle lar-ger. valve so that the' larger valve Structure loeeoniee the Sustaininginemi lier for the' stein: of tl'ie eina'll'i valvevvliellj carries` the l'oata j Heretofore inthe art? it 'has been cnstoniaryinerely to provi'deliap valves offva-r-ioue conetruct--ionSl to comprise the danip valve used' to 'seal the: conduit betweenftlie num chamber and the StorageA chamber: lllls dump rvalve nlnet Seal tiglitl' otherwise leakage: will eause'tlie l'lquoi-'in-ftlie Storage tank to liedr wir baelzf intov tlie vaeuuin; elraniber ilLk t-le valvel immersed, and ifL the dumpA valire is` not; immersed their air Wil'flj'lje drawn tlirouglivtlie leaky dump gvalve.; therefore has beenl tle customto-1nale dunip valves relatively small Since a snralll valve -seaft i's-n'ioreeaei'l'y niade airti' *l aglarge-om. Sinalldunip valves, however, restrict tlie flow of liner f-roin'llie vacuumtanl to tlie .et-orage tank: An iinvportant factor in tlie volume of" 'nel pnrnpedby a vacuum tank system is tlfie rapl'dity with which the vacuum chamber dumps or empties. It is, therefore, desirable to provide constructions which will quickly empty the vacuum tank.

The present invention also overcomes the difficulties of the prior art as to the dump valve in that it provides a construction having the walls thereof constructed along stream-line contours, thereby obviating any retarding action due to eddies etc., and the valve disk itself is shaped to continue the stream line structure so that the conduit leading to the dump valve and the disc valve itself are so arranged as to greatly facilitate discharge of the vacuum tank.

Having generally described the invention it may be stated that the principal object thereof is a vacuum fuel system comprising a plurality of valves for the suction line,

Cil

and with said valves adapted to be successively operated.

Another object of the present invention is a control valve for the suction line of a vacuum tank fuel system so constructed as to comprise axially arranged members adapted to suspend a valve operating float when the valves are open.

Another object of the present invention is a valve for vacuum tanks or the like comprising a valve control for the vacuum line and having a large opening and a small opening with constructions arranged to open and close the small. opening prior to the opening and closing of the large opening.

A still further object of the present invention is a double valve for the suction line of a vacuum tank, said double valve comprising a small valve to admit air to the suction line before the large valve is removed from its valve seat.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a dump valve for vacuum tanks and the like with the valve conduit constructed to comprise a stream line opening to obviate eddies in the liquid fiowing from the vacuum tank.

Another object of the present invention is a dump valve for vacuum tanks or the like comprising a stream line conduit closed by a coniform disk the walls of which are stream line in shape.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part bev obvious and will in part be pointed out hereinafter in the specification following by reference to the accompanying drawings throughout which like characters are used to represent like parts.

Realizing that the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than those herein specifically shown and described, it is desire-d that the disclosure herewith shall be considered as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a vacuum tank comprising one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail illustrating the large valve closed and the small valve open;

Figure 3 is a view illustrating both valves open;

Figure 4lis a sectional detail view showing the dump valve disassembled;

Figure 5 is more or less a diagrammatical view illustrating the connection with a vacuum tank with a supply reservoir anda hydrocarbon engine.

Referring now to the drawings, the storage chamber 1 is provided with suitable fastening members 2 by which the tank may be attached as desired adjacent a hydrocarbon engine or the like. This storage chamber is provided with anvoutlet l adapted to lead gasoline or the like to the place of use, for example, a carburetor 5 of a hydrocarbon engine t3. The storage chamber is vented to atmosphere by a vent pipe 7 which may be curved downwardly to prevent dust and dirt from entering the storage chamber. A suitable neck 8 may be provided on the storage chamber and preferably is arrangedL with a collar 9 on the upper end. This col- 4lar constitutes a support on which the vacuum chamber 10 may rest and over which the cover 11 may be secured by suitable machine screws or the like. 'lhe vacuum chamber preferably is a relatively long cylindrical vessel provided on its lower end with a dump valve 12 which may comprise a flanged section lll screw threaded on its exterior and adapted to receive a nut 15 provided with arms 16 which form guides and stops for the valve disk 17. This valve disk is constructed to seat on a valve seat formed on the end of the flanged member 111 and the valve disk is coniform with the sides thereof curved in stream-line formation. rllhe opening 18 in the flanged section is likewise ot stream-line formation, thereby obviating eddies when the dump valve is opened and thus permitting the contents of the vacuum chamber 10 to quickly empty into the storage chamber 1. This is of considerable importance in view of the fact that one factor in the capacity of operation of the tank is the rapidity with which the vacuum chamber may be emptied.

The cover 11 of the vacuum tank comprises a member provided with a screen well 19 from which a connection 20 leads to the main tank 21, which main tank is vented to atmosphere so that no vacuum is formed in the main tank as the liquid fuel is withdrawn. The cover also carries a connection 22 adapted to be connected to intake manifold of the hydrocarbon engine G so that when the engine is operating a partial vacuum will be formed in the conduit. The vacuum may he obtained by any other means, but the maifold connection affords a IBO @surement way of attaining the necessary' vacuum. The inner end oi. the connection may comprise mei'n'her 24 which is provided on its lo'i'ver end with screw threads :25 that carry a nut 26 provided With arms 27l that torni the support 'ler a disk valvey by a rcap nur' s2'. fitte' valve stein preferabi-y' 1is' i vided with a triage s601334 above tte disk unie' and with a; generi ai or @Onica'l valve 35 heloyv" the disk valve;` This spherical valve 35 is adaptedt seat on a 4 y n* .ii, .i val-vc seat 36 termed int e disk. rheimlve construction j'u'st dfe's'c-il'ibed 1s intended' to i i ,I L.. Y. i comprise a two-valve arran-genli Winch v. n, ltor convenienceis illustrated as b ng 1n onen VAWHl y .v .4 struct-ure. This tivo valve ai angement is e intendedl to permit air to bel introduced' inte the conduit 37 through asmall valvebetore the large valve 35 is" to be opened.k xl Le if. HL, .lhis reduces the amountlol suction in tue ,.t, vh; i` num conduit 34 and permits the large valve to he more easily Wiltlidraivn. The air ivh'ich is supplied through the `small valve 35 enters the vacuum chani'berfth'rough the conntly open vent 38.x The' valve stein at its lower end is provided with an heliaped extension 59' which iornis an' interlock by extending through the bracket l0"` on the float lll. 'Preferably a smal-l coiled spring e2" is provided above the bracket 30 soV that the coil `spring gently closes the valves and revents any pounding ot the valves due to the rising ol theiloat and the jarring oli the parts Where' the invention is used in an automobile that isbeing run over relatively rough roads. llrom this lconstruction itwill bev noted thatthe area ol" the A"vacuum conduit 37 is relatively large and is not reduced at the'lvalve4 opening. This facilitates full effect being given tothe suction i'v'hifch causcstlre vacuum chamber to rapidly fill with fuel drawn from the main supply. Assuming the valves 2S and 35 to be open and that the hydrocarbon engine started,

the air 'from the vacuum chamber l0l rapidly Withd aavn through thev conduit v37' since this conduit is relatively large andthe valve opening is also large. The air in the vacuunr chamber is Withdrawn much more rapidly than air comes in through the veut 38 sov that a partial vacuum is quickly lori'ned the vacuum chamber. This i-mmediately seats `the dump yalve l2, and causes liquid; :fuel to be raised from the main storage tank 2l to the yacuum chamber l0.l As the liquid tuel fills this. chamber the float 4l rises until the cushion spring e2 engages the spherical valve 35 and lifts this valve against its s'eat in the' disk vaflif'e 28 alter which`r hoth valves areV lifted until suction in th'e suction line snaps the disk valve tightly against the valve scat 29. Suction inthe suction conduit holds both valves 28 andv 35 against their respective valve seats and completely cuts oil suction 'from the' vacuum chamber. ir continuing to' come into the vacuum chamber through the open vent 38 relieves the partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber so that the: torce ol gravity opens the du'nqik valve-and the liquid inthe' vacuum'A chamber quickly Hows through the stream-line conduit into the storage rchainber 1 andlrom there to' the place of use. litter the liquid in the vacuum chamber hals' lowered vsu'thciently to cause the' bracket i() on' the float ll to' engage the hook 39 on the valve stein` 36 a further lowering off the liquid level' causes the Weight ot' the lloat to` exert a pull tendingv to unseat the' spherical valve 35. Since the area oit' lthis valve seat 4is small this valve is quickly opened and air inthe vacuum chamber rushes into the conduit 37 and reduces the vacuum ther In sc that the large valve'28 quickly u'nseated bythe bridge stop 34. The arms 27 catch the disk 28'l and the bridge stop Se sustains the valve stein i'vhi'ch nov" suspends the float. cycle ot operations has now been completed and a nevi cycle hegins with the closing ot the dump valve.

The constructions described are such as may largely be made by automatic machinery and are vvery easily assembled, as Well as being sturdy and mechanically simple, and

highly el'hcient' in operation.V This e'liicient action is particularly noticeable with reierence to the absence ot rau' lu'el being drawn into the manifold, lt will be noted that the conduit 37 comprises a large vertical here through which the stein 30 entends and smaller horizontal lherel which is adapted to he connected with the suction line 22. The large disk valve when resting u-pon the lovver ends ol the arms 2l is spaced at relatively large distance from the valve seat 29'- and thus a relatively large space is provided for the flow ot out going ai-r over the disk and into the vertical conduit. The larger the outlet space, the loivcr the velocity ot the air particles hcing witlnlrawn by suction. 'lhese airparticles do not reach a high velocity until the conduitbeconi-cs constricted asiat the horizontal portion' ol the bere 37. rillus isv aliove the raw gasoline and the low velocity air at the inlet over the' large valve does not lift the raw liquid. `if'ilhere small suction valves are used, ashas been common in the art4` the high rate o'lair travel through the small valve carries with it all spray, beads. or drops ot gasoline that ias are in the vicinity ot the valve. Such Ia'ction ot small valves causes this rauf' luel to'be dra-Wn into the engine in its raiv state rai) thereby producing many motor troubles, such as carbon deposits, thinning of: lubrication and had Vluel mixtures. All these dili'icultics are overcome by the valve construction ot the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

l. ln a vacuum fuel feeding system, the combination ot a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, means to produce suction, a vacuum conduit located above the liquid level in the vacuum chamber and operatively connecting said means with the vacuum chamber, and a pair ot valves controlling the eii'lect oi the suction on said vacuum chan-dier said valvia comprisinga large valve and a small valve, both ot said valves controlling openings from the vacuum chamber leading to the vacuum conduit., and means tor opening and closing the small valve prior to the openingl and closingl ol the large valve.

2. In a vacuum Yluel feeding system, the combination of a main tank, a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber operatively connect-- ed to the main tank, means to produce suction, ay vacuum conduit located above the liquid level in the vacuum chamber and operatively connecting said means with the vacuum chai'nber, and a. pair olf valves controlling the ell'ect olt the suction on said acuum chamber said valves connln'ising a large valve and a` small valve, both ot said valves controlling openings 'from the vacuum chamber leading to the vacuum conduit, and a float in the vacuum chamber ior opening' and closing the small valve prior to the opening' and closing ot the large valve.

3. ln a vacuum fuel feeding system, the combination ol a. storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, means to produce suction, a vacuum conduit located above the liquid level in the vacuum chamber and operatively connecting said means with the vacuum chamber. and a plurality ol" valves controlling the ell'ect oit the suction on said vacuum chamber said valves comprising valves graduated in sine, said valves controlling openings from the vacuum chamber leading to the vacuum conduit, and means for opening and closing the smallest valve prior to the opening and closing ot the largest valve.

et. In a vacuum fuel feeding s fstem, the combination ol a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, means to produce suction a vacuum conduit located above the liquid level in the vacuum chamber and operatively connecting said means with the vacuum chamber, and a pair ot valves controlling the eiiqect ot the suction on said vacuum chamber said valves comprising a large valve and a small valve, both of said valves controlling openings from the vacuum chamber leading to the vacuum conduit, and means for opening and closing the small valve prior to the opening and closing ot the Vlarge valve, said large valve carrying the small valve.

5. ln a vacuum tank system tor supplying liquid 'fuel to hydrocarbon engines or the like, the combination of a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve comprising a conduit having the side walls thereo'lf 'toi-ined of ii-'treani-line contours, a valve seat on the end o' said conduit, and a coni'torm disk adapted io seat upon said valve seat. i

G. ln a vacuum tank systen'i ifor supplying liquid tuel to hydrocarbon engines or the like, the combination of a main tank, a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber operatively connected to the main tank, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve comprising a conduit having the side walls lthereof formed of stream-line contours, a valve seat on the end of ,said conduit, and a coniiorm disk adapted to seat upon said valve seat.

'ln a vacuum tank system l'or supplying liquid fuel to hydrocarbon engines or the like, the combination o't a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve comprising a oo-nduit having the side walls thoreo'l" formed of stream-line contours, a valve seauJ on the end of said conduit, and a conii'orm stream-line disk adapted to seat upon said valve seat, and to form a stream-line opening over the disk when the valve is open.

8. ln a vacuum tank system ifor supplying liquid fuel to hydrocarbon engines or the like, the combination ot a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve comprising a conduit, a valve seat on the end ot said conduit, a coniform disk adapted to seat upon said valve seat, and an open spider support for said disk.

In a vacuum tank system for supplying liquid 'fuel to hydrocarbon engines or the like, the combination of a main tank".l a storage chamber, a vacuum chamber operatively connected to the main tank, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve coinprising a conduit, a valve seat on the end ot said conduit, and a coniiorm stream-line disk adapted to seat upon said valve seat, and to form a stream-line opening over the disk when the valve is open.

10. In a vacuum fuel feed system, a float controlled suction valve; said suction valve comprising a large disk member, a small valve seat on said disk member, a valve stem extending through said disk member, a small valve carried by said valve stem,

lll() y and a stop on said valve stem; in combina- 11. In a vacuum fuel feed system, a float controlled suction valve; said suction valve comprising a large disk member, a small valve seat on said disk member a valve stem extending through said disk member, a small valve carried by said valve stem, and a bridge stop on said valve stem and above said disk member, in combination with a conduit provided with a valve seat for said disk valve; means to support said disk valve when the same is removed from the valve seat whereby said disk valve is adapted to sustain said valve stem; a float; a connection between said float and said valve stem whereby a telescopic action is permitted between said valve stem and said float and to cause said float to be suspended by said valve stem when the float reaches the lower limit of travel.

12. In a vacuum fuel feed system, a float controlled suction valve; said suction valve comprising a large disk member, a small valve seat on said disk member, a valve stem extending through said disk member, a small valve carried by said valve stem, and a stop on said valve stem; in combination with a conduit provided with a valve seat for said disk valve; a guide for said valve stem, means to support said disk valve when the same is removed freni the valve seat whereby said disk valve isv adapted to sustain said valve stem; a float, a. connection between said float and said valve stem whereby a telescopic action is permitted between said valve stem and said iioat and to cause said float to be suspended by said valve stem when the float reaches the lower limit of travel.

1 3. In a vacuum fuel feed system, a float controlled suction valve; said suction -valve comprising a largo disk member, a small valve seat on said disk member, a valve stem estending through said disk member, a small valve carried by said valve stem, and a stop on said valve stem; in combination with a conduit provided with a valve seat for said disk valve; means comprising supporting arms to support said disk valve when the same is removed from the valve seat whereby said disk valve is adapted to sustain said valve stem;

a float; a sliding connection between said float and said valve stem whereby a telescopie action is permitted between said valve stein and said float and to cause said float to be suspended. by the stop resting upon thc disk member and supporting said valve stem when the vfloat reaches the lower v,limit of travel.

l/l. .In a vacuum fuel feed system, a vacuum chan'iber, a suction conduit leading to said vacuum chamber', a valve seat on the end of said suction conduit, a ioat operated valve adapted to control said conduit, a float, a valve stem movable through said valve and operatively connecting said float with said valve to cause said valve to support said stem and suspend. said float when the valve is open and the float is at the lower limit of its t ra vel. i

In a vacuum fuel feed system, a main tank, a vacuum chamber operatively connected with the main tank, a suction conduit leading to said vacuum chamber, a valve seat on the cud of said suction conduit, a float operated valve adapted to control said v conduit, a float, and a valve siem operatively connecting said floatavith said valve'to cause said valve to support said stem and' susiriend said lioat when the valve is open and the float 1s at the lower limit of its travel. 1G. In a vacuum fuel feed system, a vac- ,num chamber, a suction conduit, leading to said vacuum chamber, a valve seat on the end of said suction conduit, a. float operated y valve adapted to control said conduit, a nut provided with a plurality of arms to support said valve, a float, means operatively connecting said lioat with said valve to cause said valve to suspend said float when the alve is open and thel float is at the lower limit of its travel. f

I?. Ina vacuum tank fuel feed system, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a storage chamber, a suction conduit leading to said vacuum chamber', a double valve for controlling said suction conduit, means for opening and closing said valves successively, a storage chamber, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valvebeing provided with a stream-line opening through which fuel from 'said vacuum chamber may quickly iow to said storage chamber.

18. In a vacuum tank fuel feed system, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a

storage chamber, a suction conduit ,lea-ding to said vacuum chamber, a n'iultiple valve for controlling said suction conduit, Ifloat means for opening and closing said valve successively to render the suction gradually e'li'ective upon the vacuum chamber, a storage chamber, a dump valve between said vacuum chamber and said storage chamber, said dump valve being provided with a streamline opening through which fuel from said vacuum chamber may quickly flowy to said storage chamber.

GEORGE RAMSEY. 

